Somerset police officers, including Chief Joseph Ferreira, plucked Robidoux from the roof of the new Somerset Berkley Regional High School at 4:20 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Robidoux, 33, 444 Montaup Street in Fall River, is already awaiting trial on two counts of larceny over $250 and trespassing on charges he stole copper from the roof of the former Brayton Avenue School in May.

Somerset police charged Robidoux with two counts of larceny from a building, two counts of malicious destruction of property over $250, trespassing, attempted larceny and possession of burglarious tools.

“Thursday, the high school called us to say they had substantial water damage in the building and an inch of water in the gym,” Ferreira said Saturday.

Ferreira said his officers discovered “tens of thousands of dollars worth of copper flashing” missing from the roof.

Police checked area scrap-metal yards and found Robidoux had been selling copper, in one case a load worth $450.

“We thought he had been accessing the roof using gas pipes on the exterior of the building,” Ferreira said.

Ferreira, Capt. Glenn Neto and Detective Jason Matos went up on the roof Friday night and waited.

“We were standing behind a wall,” Ferreira said.

After waiting for several hours, Ferreira said they saw Robidoux climbing onto the roof, at which time the three officers emerged from their hiding place and placed Robidoux under arrest.

“He had a hammer and other tools with him,” Ferreira said. “We had our service weapons and Tasers pointed at him.”

Robidoux came quietly.

Ferreira said he thinks the cost of the copper plus repairing water damage might come to as much as $50,000.

“When someone steals this amount of goods from the public and causes significant damage, we take it personal and serious,” Ferreira said.

“We did, and were willing, to allocate as many resources as possible to catch him in the act,” Ferreira said. "The detectives certainly had Robidoux on their radar screen, but nothing beats catching him in the act."

Robidoux was transported to the Bristol County House of Correction and is being held on $2,500 bail, Ferreira said

In May, Robidoux was arrested by Fall River police after a person who lived near the former Brayton Avenue School noticed copper flashing was missing from the building.

Acting on the tip, detectives went to Fall River Metals and learned that a man and woman had recently come in to sell scrap copper. Police say employees identified the man as Robidoux.

Someone from Fall River’s Community Maintenance Department was subsequently able to confirm that the scrapped copper in question was from the former Brayton Avenue School.